Development of a new TaqMan-based real-time RT-PCR assay for the specific detection of bovine kobuvirus

Bovine kobuvirus (BKV) is a novel kobuvirus considered to be closely related to calf diarrhea and has become a worldwide epidemic. Currently, the BKV lacks an efficient and convenient detection method to assist the research on BKV prevalence. In this study, a new and specific TaqMan-based real-time RT-PCR for the detection of BKV was developed using the conserved region of the 3D gene. The assay was highly specific for BKV, without cross-amplification with other non-targeted pathogens. The limit of detection of this assay was 10(2) copies. Standard curves showed a strong linear correlation from 10(2) to 10(6) copies of BKV standard RNA per reaction, and the parameters revealed as a slope of -3.54, efficiency of 91.64%, and regression coefficients (R-2) of 0.998. The assay was also reproducible, with the intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variation <1.0%. The newly developed real-time RT-PCR was validated using 243 fecal samples collected from diarrheic or non-diarrheic cattle from nine regions in Hebei province and revealed the positive detection of BKV at a ratio of 19.34% (47/243). Sequencing of partial 3D genes from 13 positive samples and the following phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the reliability of the assay. In conclusion, the newly developed TaqMan-based real-time RT-PCR could be used for the screening and epidemic monitoring of BKV.

Automated summary

In this study, a new Taqman-based real-time RT-PCR method was developed for the detection of Bovine kobuvirus (BKV), which can be used efficiently and specifically for BKV detection and epidemiological research.